Bismillaher Rehmaanir Rahemm

1) That time of year....the dreaded time of exams

For many when we hear the phrase “It’s that time of year again...” we think of year-end holidays and another year gone. For others it’s the dreaded time of exams. Again! A time of fear and anxiety, a time of wishing we had done more during the year, but there’s no getting away from it. It’s that time of year again....

 

And as we grow older the exams seem to get more difficult and the brain more reluctant to yield the information we crammed into it. At junior grade the answers are simple, such as the teacher who asked Albie to come to the map and show the class where is America, Albie did so correctly and then the teacher asked: “Now class, who discovered America?” “Albie!!” was the prompt and proud answer.

 

 As we grow older we can no longer get away hiding behind childhood innocence but have to demonstrate our learning ability and answer the questions about intricate subjects that often have a multitude of odd sounding phrases that difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to learn. But without learning there can be no progress. “The more knowledgeable the man, the more valuable the man” said Hazrat Ali (RA)

 

With the limited time to cram a year’s worth of information we often seek extraordinary solutions, but there are few except the tried and tested method of prayer, hard work and lots more hard work. But here some practical tips to help you:

 

PRAY - Before any study session spend a few moments praying. Sometimes teens think that Allah is only in the most spiritual parts of their lives, but Allah is in every aspect of your life. He wants you to succeed. Praying can bring you closer to Allah and make you feel a little stronger and relaxed going into test time. Ask others to also pray for you. We can never underestimate the power of prayer.

STUDY SMART – more time doesn’t mean more effective studying. Ideally study for 50 minutes then spend 10 minutes reviewing the material just covered. Then take a 5minute break to soak it all in.

ESTABLISH A STUDY TIMETABLE – many students loose hours of study time deciding what to study and the mind will always gravitate to those subjects we enjoy ignoring the ones that we dislike and really need attention.

LOSE THE EXCUSES - It can be easy to put off studying until the last minute. The things going on around you can be tempting ways to procrastinate. Exams are overwhelming. They do test your limits, but you can learn. You need to keep your pace reasonable and learn what you can.

 

EAT WELL – while many teenagers are convinced that chocolate slabs and crisps are packed with sufficient sugar and carbohydrates to nourish the brain – in reality, they only satisfy the taste-buds and are very poor brain food. High sugar foods may give you energy at first, but then it plummets pretty quickly. So drop some of the ‘snacks’ for a real good meal at least twice a day.

 

GET YOUR REST - Sleep is one of the most important tools you have in studying for exams. You may feel stressed and like you don't know everything you need to know, but a good night sleep can help relieve that stress. A lack of sleep can end up clouding your judgment or increase your number of mistakes. Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night, especially the night before your exam.

 

TAKE A BREATHER - Breaks are a good thing. Even the test preparers of major tests like the ACT and SAT know the importance of taking a breather, as they schedule them into the test time. Studying can take its toll on you, and after a while the words and information can just seem like a jumbled mess. Step away from what you are studying and just clear your head with something different. It will help make you fresh to continue.

 

HAVE SOME FUN - Yes, exam time is stressful, and you may feel like you have to devote all your time to studying. However, if you develop a good plan you should have some time to spend with friends and family. Relax in the garden. Spend time in the Masjid doing voluntary Ibadah (worship). Make some time to do some community work. Taking an hour or two to get away from the stress is a good thing. It will make your head a bit clearer when you back to studying and you will feel re-energized.

 When all else fails then you could pray a lot more and come up with some imaginative excuses like:

 

Father: Why are your exam marks so low?
SON: Because I sit at the desk at the back, Dad.
Father: What difference does that make?
SON: Well, there are so many of us in the class that when it's my turn for marks there aren't any left.

   We pray that Allah Ta’ala grant all the students success in their exams and use their knowledge for the sake of promoting his Deen. We also ask Allah to assist us all in our FINAL exam when we meet Him and allow us all to pass this difficult assessment with flying colours… Aameen!

Courtesy:  http://eislaminfo.blogspot.com/2012/10/examssome-useful-tips_25.html

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2) THE POST EXAM PERIOD

 

Our children are a trust given to us by Allah Ta'ala. Depending on the upbringing we give them, we may nurture them to be morally good and upright persons or if they are just left uncared and untrained they may become innocent victims of the environment we are living in and left to become morally bereft. There is a great responsibility that has to be borne by both parents and guardians.

 

Allah Ta'ala says:"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from the fire.."

(Quran-Surah 66 -6)

 

The Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"Lo! All of you are leaders and shall be questioned on the day of Judgement in respect of your trust. So, the king is head unto his subjects and shall be question in respect of them, the husband is a head unto his wife and shall be questioned in respect of her, the wife is a head unto her husband's house and the children, and shall be questioned in respect of them all; the slave is-a watchman unto his master's effects and shall be questioned in respect of those.So you all shepherds and you shall be questioned in respect of that entrusted to you."(Hadith:Bhukhari - Muslim)

 

An Earnest Appeal to Parents

 

The post exam is a period of care-free relaxation and indulgence. It is the common practice of students during this interim to indulge in frivolous pursuits not to mention haraam(forbidden) and abominable actions. It is extreme foolishness and utter dimwittedness to indulge in things which Allah has, explicitly through the Qur'aan Majeed and Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, forbade us from.

 

It is the objective of shaytaan(satan), the accursed, to deviate the ummah by means of false promises and the notion that such - and - such an activity is wide-spread and therefore acceptable and a norm. Parents and students alike should take heed of the warning given by Allah Ta'ala not to indulge in activities that cause harm spiritually and socially.

 

As a parent, are you prepared to see your Beloved Child Burning? If a child is set alight, flailing his arms and screaming in agony, will any respected human being, forget a parent, be able to witness such horror without it affecting the heart and forcing the body into action, to extinguish such fire and saving the child? It is not possible for any person to be a passive spectator in such an event. Therefore, how is it possible for parents to allow our children to engage in activities which only paves the way to ultimate destruction, i.e. Jahannam (Hell), not to mention, the misery we light in our hearts right here in this earthly life when we suddenly realize that our dear children have become involved in some destructive addiction or haraam relationship. By then it is too late. Let us act now and secure our youth's future.

 

The Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Youth is a kind of madness" (Hadith).What are we doing to save our dear and beloved ones? ??

 

Some of the despicable activities commonly engaged in by the some youth include: Parties, time being spent at evil places (night clubs etc), associating with friends who have evil habits, alcohol and drugs, gang fights, pornography , unsupervised internet chatrooms, returning home in the early parts of the morning,Free intermingling of sexes, Zina (adultery, fornication) etc

 

What can we do…

Do not send them to school after exams unless proper control and supervision is present. (An idle mind is the devils workshop)

Explore constructive Islamic ways to keep them occupied.

Draw up a program for the post exam period. Include your kids in your discussions and decisions. Make them feel part of it.

Parents should interact and spend quality time with their kids.

The type of friends your kid chooses is so important! Don’t ever underestimate peer pressure. The Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend" (Hadith-Tirmidhi).

Ensure punctuality in Prayers at its FIXED times.

Encourage reading of good Islamic Books.

Let them explore nature. Start or maintain a garden. Go on a hike, feed birds etc

To send the males in the Path of Allah under adult supervision.

Females to participate in taleem (educational) programmes in the neighbourhood and at home.

To assist widows, elderly, orphans and visiting patients in hospital.

To participate in volunteer work e.g. any Islamic activities supported and supervised by Ulema or responsible adults.

If your kids want to go on any outing then accompany them to such places, only if such places are Islamically acceptable, otherwise prohibit them from going.

Engage the younger kids in activities such as Islamic arts and crafts.

Engage in activities like memorization of Qur'an and the Zikr of Allah,learning duas(dua a day) etc.

Make available some good Islamic literature, CD's such as lectures, nasheeds, Qur’an,zikr etc

Encourage kids to assist parents in any household activities. Painting, cleaning the garage etc

Have meaningful, educational and interactive discussions on general topics with them.

Try and create activities that will develop them mentally, spiritually and morally.

 

Kids are amongst our most precious assets…Value Them!

 

Just like in a garden the more time and effort you spent nurturing it, the better fruit and flowers it will indeed produce! Likewise inculcating good habits and morals in our kids will make them blossom morally and spiritually and will ultimately be a means of happiness in this world and salvation in the hereafter.

 

IMPORTANT: *SPEND AS MUCH QUALITY TIME AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR KIDS!!!!!...There is NO substitute for Parental Guidance & Supervision!!!!

 

Don't forget to ask Allah for Protection & Help as Nothing can be achieved without the help of Allah Ta'ala! A llah Ta’ala indeed accepts the duas (supplications) of parents in favour of their children. Allah, The Most Wise and Most Merciful says:

"No one despairs of solace from Allah except for those who are unbelievers"(Quran12:87)

 By Abu Muhammad Yusuf

 

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 Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif, www.thekhalids.oeg

 

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